Your accountant told you that you can give away gifts of up to $15,000 per person this year without consequences.

You want to preserve the family home.

You have a loved one with special needs.

You hope one day to leave your hard earned assets to others of your own choosing.

You have freely shared money with your loved ones and your level of independence is changing (or you are the recipient of money from an older adult who is facing increased care needs).

You want to have a say in who will help you manage your affairs if you become unable to handle them yourself.

You don’t understand the long-term care system and you or a loved one is becoming frail.

You are a caregiver for a loved one.

Do any of the ten situations listed above apply to you? When seeking assistance, be sure to research the qualifications of the attorney you plan to hire. The National Elder Law Foundation is a resource which will guide you to certified elder law attorneys. Attorneys who are certified in elder law have met specific criteria which indicate that they have knowledge and experience related to the spectrum of issues which can occur with older adults and their families.

If you still have questions about elder law in general or a specific topic related to elder law, please visit a listing of free seminars. The topics covered by these weekly seminars change every month. * Jessica F. Greene, CELA,* LL.M. in Elder Law is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation.